Stakeholder Information and Listening Session on SAMHSA's Upcoming Medicaid and CHIP and Commercial Market Parity Policy Academies

Thursday, December 22, 2016 | 1–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

On December 22, SAMHSA will host a listening session on its plans to establish the Medicaid and CHIP Parity Policy Academy and the Commercial Market Parity Policy Academy in spring 2017.

These Parity Policy Academies will be formed as a result of the recommendations of the President's Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force in its final report [PDF - 913 KB] issued on October 27, 2016. These policy academies present a unique opportunity to bring together national experts to conduct technical assistance for teams of state officials on strategies to advance parity compliance and best practices from state parity implementation efforts. There will be access to a variety of technical assistance developed by national parity experts. In the coming weeks, SAMHSA will issue an expression of interest inviting states to apply to participate in one or both of the Parity Policy Academies.

During this listening session, SAMHSA will present its ideas about the Parity Policy Academies and what participating states might expect. This event will also be an opportunity for participants to provide feedback on the development of the policy academies and ask questions.

The listening session will be conducted by teleconference call on December 22, 2016, from 1–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Please contact ParityPolicyAcademy@samhsa.hhs.gov with questions.